Process for producing sulphur dioxide and apparatus therefor



Aug. 10 1926. 1,595,196

H. O. C. ISENBERG PROCESS FOR PRODUCING SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed D50. 22, 1924 2 he t 1 I M1 //v l/E/VTOR Mew 50. aliz/mma ATTORNEYS WI m5 ss Aug. 10 1926.

H. o. c. ISENBERG IROCESS FOR PRODUCING SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed D60; 22. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WI TIVESS INVENTOR f/mvs 0. 0. IINBR6 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 10, 19.26.

' UNITED STATES inns o.'c. ISENIBERG, or GARDEN or'rr, New YORK, assrenon 'IO GENERAL onum- PATENT OFFICE.

GAL COMPANY, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

rnocuss For. Paonuome sunrnun; moxmr: Am) nrrnnarus museums.

. .hpplication filed December 22, 1924. Serial No. 757,813.

My invention relatesto sulphur burners, and has for its object to facilitate the separation of impurities contained in the raw sulphur, so that the sulphur dioxide gas. re-- sulting from the burning operation maybe.

obtained in a stateof great purity. The improved sulphur, burner may be operated either under pressure, that is under condi: tionscreating an internal pressure eater than atmospheric pressure, or such urner.

may be operated under suction, in which case the internalpressure will be, below atmospheric pressure;

Two satisfactory examples of my invention are illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1v is a plan view showing one embodiment of my. improved sulphur burner Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

corresponding to Figs. 2 and Srespectively, but showing another embodiment of my invention. 4

I will first describe those portions of the sulphur burner which are alike in both constructions illustrated. At the top of the ap-' inclined upwardly from the ends of the apparatus toward the middle, so that the vessels of the same pair are highest at their ad jacent ends. The vessels are provided at their upper portions with individual filling openings,- normally closed by covers 11. Furthermore, these vessels are provided at dinally slidable or otherwise removable cover sections 12, to afford-access to the contents of thevessel, when desired, even during the operation of the burner, so that the impuri-,

ties that have collected at the bottom of the vessels lO may be removed from any one or more of them,'whilethe burner is operating. Theseiimpurities are generally in the nature of a thick mud," and may be readily scraped Fig. 3 is ayertical cross-section on line' 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 are views their outer or lower portions, with longitu off the bottoni of the vessels 10, and lifted out therefrom, after removing the respective cover sections 12. At difierent points of thelength of each vessel 10, I have shown pipes 13 provided with elbows 14 which dip into the molten sulphur' contained in the vessels dioxide gases (mixed with air, etc.), as in-' dicated at 19. Fig. 1 shows a single centrally located outlet 19- and two lateral air inlets 18, but I- 'do not wish to restrict myself tolthis.

The two constructions illustrated difier as to the lower' portion of themain burner chamber. In Figs. 2 and 3, this chamber has a bottom 20 inclined downward trans-1 versely (Fig. 3) from the side walls 21 of the chamber to" its lon itudinal center, and also inclined downward y from the end wall 17 to theopposite end-wall 16. These end walls are also provided, below the level of the molten sulphur, with clean-out doors 22 and 23 respectively, and another clean-out door 24 may preferably near the end wall 16. It will be understood thatthe openings 18, 19 are located above the surface of the body of molten sulphur contained in the main burner chamber. This latter remark will apply .to.

both formsv of my invention illustrated herein.

In the construction. shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the end walls 16, 17 are'of eqlial height, such height being less than that of the end walls f6, 17. No clean-out doors have been shown in the walls 16, 17. The bottom of themain burner chamber consists of a series of transverse Walls 20 inclined alternately in opposite directions to form downwardlycontracting pockets 25. At the central portions of these pockets, I have shown cleanout doors 24, and at the sides of the pockets,

be located in the bottom 20,-

55 10, and these pipes 13 extend downwardly in the side walls 21', I have indicated cleanout doors 26.

When the burner is to be operated under pressure, air under a pressure greater than atmospheric is forced in through the inlets 18 by a blower (not shown) or in any other suitable manner.. The gases (large y sulphur dioxide) produced in the main burner chamber pass out at 19. When the burner is to be operated under a partial vacuum, the outlet 19 is connected with a suction device (not shown) of any well-known or approved character, so that the pressure in the main burner chamber will be below atmospheric, and air will be drawn in through the inlets 18. I

It will be understood that the heat produced by the burning of the sulphur in the main burner chamber will melt'the raw sulphur (brimstone) introduced into the upper vessels 10 through the openings normally closed by the covers 11. As the, molten sulphur in these upper vessels is in a'quiescent state, time and opportunity is given for a large portion of the impurities to settle in these vessels, particularly at their outer or lower ends. These impurities may be re removed, without interrupting the operation, by uncovering the openings normally closed by the removable sections 12, and withdrawing such impurities through these openings. The molten sulphur, purified as explained, passes through the elbows 14 and pipes 13 into the lower portion of the main chamber. Here the sulphur from the several upper vessels forms a single continuous body of molten sulphur, which is ignitedand The fact that the bottom of the main chamber is inclined (either continuously from end to end, as in Fig. 2, or alternately in opposite directions, as in Fig. 4) promotes the deposit ofa further amount of impurities, so that the burning surface layer of sulphur is of great purity, resulting in a corresponding purity of the S0 gases passing out at 19.

It will be understood that the melting vcs sels form a closed top or roof for the main burner chamber, and that the latter, under normal operating conditions, is closed with the exception ofthe openings 18, 19.

Impurities deposited in the main burnerchamber may be removed by opening the clean-out doors 22, 23 or 26, while the bottom openings normally closed by the doors 24 or- 24 will generally 'be used for the removal ofall the sulphur and impurities from the main burner chamber.

The overflow pipes 131shouldbe of sumcient length so that the height of the column ofmolten sulphur in them' will ,beable to overcome the pressure in tlie mainburner chamber, when the apparatus ijsffoperated under a pressure greater than atmospheric.

, It will be observed that'the-arrangement other impurlties interfere very materially and eliminated in the top and in the bottonr chambers without interruption of the process and in such manner that the precipitated impurities do not appear in the burner gases. I

The burner gases are consequently in a state of relatively great purity as contrasted with burner gases obtained from brimstone when burned in apparatus and under conditions" which do not apply the principles of this invention. Particularly when the burner gases are intended for subsequent catalytic treatment to convert their SO content into 80,, the removal of the impurities, and es: pecially arsenic, is of great importance, it being well k own that arsenic and certain with the yield of the catalytic reaction and have a ten'dency to weaken and poison, as it were, the substances employed as catalysts. Arsenic occurs rather frequently as an im- 7 purity associated with brimstone, and even high-grade Louisiana brimsitone occasionally becomes contaminated with Q arsenic. The impurities will; of course, be removed periodically, and in this :manner I am enabled to preserve purity of a certain degree in the molten supply of the upper vessels 10 as well as in the molten pool in the-mainburner chamber.

Various modifications may be made with out departing frdm the nature of my invention 'as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The process of producing SO, gas

which comprises preliminary liquefaction of brimstone, feeding a burner from said liquefied supply by transferring upper layers of the liquefied supply to the burner, causing gravity-induced separation of impurities in said supply as well as in the liquid brimstone in the burner and periodically withsaid pool by'the addition of: fresh supplies. i

of brimstone, feeding a burner from said liquefied supply by transferring upper layers from the pool .to' the burner, causing gravity-induced separation of impurities in I said suppl as well as in the liquefield'brimstone in t e burner and periodically withdrawing from lowerparts of the pool'as well as of the'brimstone in the burner,'liquid brimstone in which impurities have settled.

3. The process of producing SO 'gas which comprises preliminary li liefaction of brimstone, transferring liqui the liquefied supply to brimstone from upper layers of a lower part of the liquid Brimstone} the burner, causing gravity-induced separation of impurites in said supply as well as in the liquid briinstone in the burner and periodi-- .cally withdrawing from-lower parts of the ing a supply of liquefied sulphur, feeding a burner from said .liquid supply by transferring upper layers of the supply to the burner, maintaining a mass of liquid sulphur in said burner, and withdrawin portions of liquid sulphur from the sulp ur in the burner'and from the lower layers of the sulphur in the supply so as to remove impurities which have settled at the bottom of the supply.

I 5. That improvement in the process ofburning sulphur vwhich comprises maintain ing a supply of liquefied sulphur, feeding a burner from said liquid supply by transferring upper layers of the supply" to the burner, maintaining a mass of liquid sulphur in said burner, and withdrawing sulphur from the lower portions of the sulphur 1n. the burner and from the lower layers of the sulphur inzthe supply so as to remove impurities which have settled at the lowerportions of the sulphur both in the supply and in the burner.

,6. That improvement in the process of burning sulphur which comprises maintaining a supply of liquefied sulphur, feeding a burner from said liquid supply by transferring upper layers of the supply to the burner, maintaining a mass of liquid sulphur in said burner, and withdrawing sulphur from the lower layers of the sulphur in the burner so as to remove impurities which have settled at the bottom 'of the burner. r

7 A sulphur burner. comprising a casing forming a main burner chamber, a plurality .of separate melting vessels located above said chamber, and means for transferring molten Ys ulphur from said vessels to said chamber to form a continuous body 'of molten sulphur therein.

8. That improvement in'the process of burning sulphur which comprises maintaining a supply of liquefied sulphur, feeding a burner from said liquid supply by transferring upper layers of the supply to the burner while maintaining thesulphur supaply. in heat-transfer. relation to the burner,

maintaining a mass of liquid sulphur in said burner, and withdrawing port-ions of liquid .sulphu'r from the sulphur in the burner and from the lower layers ofthe sulphur in' the supply so as to remove. impurities which have settled at the bottom of the supply.

9. A sulphur burner comprising a casing I 1 forming a mainlburner chamber, a plurality of melting vessels located above said chamber and having their bottoms inclined longitudinally in opposite directions, with arrangements for the removal of impurities from said vessels adjacent to the lower ends of their inclined -bottoms, and means for transferring molten sulphur fromjsaid vessels to said chamber.

10, An apparatus for burning sulphur,

comprising the combination of means for maintaining'asupply of molten-sulphur, a

sulphur burner adapted to contain asupply of molten sulphur, means for transferring upper layers of said supply to said burner,

means for withdrawing portions of the molring upper layers of said supplyto said burner, means for withdrawing portions of molten -sulphur from the lower portion of said burner, and means permitting.with'- drawal of liquid sulphur from the-lower layersof the sulphur in the supply.

12. A sulphur burner cqmprising a casing forming, a main burner chamber" having openings for the admission of air and the exit of hot gases respectively, the bottom of said chamber being inclined alternately in opposite directions, a melting vessel located above said chamber, and means-for transferring molten sulphur from said vessel to said chamber. V

13. An apparatus "for burning sulphur, comprising the combination of means for maintaining a supply of molten sulphur, a sulphur burner adapted to contain a supply' of molten sulphur, 'means'for transferring upper-layers of said supply to said burner, an

means for withdrawing portions of molten sulphur from the lower layers of the sulphur in" said burner. V

14. An apparatus for burning sulphur, comprising the. combination of means for maintaining asupply of molten sulphur, a

sulphurburner adapted to contain a body or piol of molten sulphur, means for transferr ng upper layers of said supply 'to said burn r while maintaining'the sulphur sup- I ply in heat-transfer relation to the burner, means for withdrawing portions of molten sulphur from said pool, and means permitting removal of sul hur from the lower layers'of the sulphur 1n the supply.

' 15. In a sulphur burner, the combination of a casing forming-a main burner chamber and having an inclined bottom and an.out-

let at its lower portion for the removal of impurities, and pipes for'supplymg molten sulphur to said burner chamber, 'sa ld pipes supplying molten sulphur to said chamber, terminating above said outlets. the outlets of said pipes being located di- 16. In a sulphur ,burner, the combination, rectly above such settling chambers. 10 of a'casing forming a main burner chamber In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 and provided with a bottom shaped to form my hand.

a plurality of settling chambers, with sepa- I 7 rate outlets forea'ch chamber, and pipes for HANS O. C. ISENBERGQ 

